April 27, part 4

Spectatcular day, guys. We are out in the middle of nowhere. Nearest town about 10 miles away. We're sitting at breakfast, deciding if we want to do anything. I had thought about kayaking, but wasn't really excited about it anymore. Then Karen C. says, "There's a lighthouse about 20 miles from here." DING DONG. That was going to be my day of rest. Karen C, Sue and I started out at about 9:30 a.m. It was a lovely, flat ride on a pleasant highway with not much traffic (Sunday morning) for 12 miles. Then came a right turn into the park. But whom should we run into on the highway before we turn into the park?. Mats, A Swedish guy that Sheila had met in Spain last year and is now walking across the US on his way from Stockholm to Sydney. (And I thought WE were making a journey!) Sheila had told us about him last night and how he was going to be in our area today. She had invited him to eat supper with us. From his description, I recognized him right away. He's been walking for more than a year and plans on being finished at the end of 2015. There's a book in there somewhere!! In any case, we took a right turn into the park along a lovely 11-mile road running through swamplands. Lots of colorful birds and other wildlife. When we got to the park entrance, it cost $1.00 per bicycle. Since I had my national park pass with me (Thanks, Kevin!), I pulled it out and he let us all in for free. We couldn't get into the lighthouse, but we walked along the beach , talked with some birders, saw a swimming alligator and enjoyed watching the people fishing from their boats in the Gulf. Then we rode back and stopped at the lodge, where I finally found postcards of Florida and the last presents I wanted to bring home. Outside the lodge, we walked down the path and say the baby 'gator on the log. We rode back out to the highway and stopped at a place that looked like a real biker dive (It advertised deep-fried oreos. No, we didn't try any.) It WAS a biker dive, but the neatest place in the world and the food was great. They were playing live blues in the pavillion next to it and I could have stayed there all day. Everyone was really friendly to everyone, there were bikers there from all over on their way to a big biker festival, nobody objected to the northern accents, and the food was great. It was basically all fried heart attack, but it tasted so good. I had fried oysters, fries and hush puppies. Tasty stuff! Tomorrow we head out to Perry. It's another short, 54-mile day. Only 4 more riding days to go. Looking forward to seeing everyone again._____________________ Heute war Ruhetag, aber einige von uns wollten nicht ruhen. Wir sind zum Leuchtturm 23 Meilen entfernt gefahren. Wir sind durch ein herrliches Sumpfgebiet mit wundschoene Voegel, Tiere und Pflanzen gefahren. Der Leuchtturm selbst war zu, aber bot ein spektakulaeres Blick und ich bin sogar mit den Fuessen ins Gulf of Mexico rein. Auf dem Rueckweg hielten wir in eine Kneipe von der unsere Eltern uns frueher gewarnt haben an. Lauter Hells Angels Typen. Aber alle waren sehr nett, die Kneipe war sehr urig und das Essen war hervorragend. Wir haben wirklich gut (aber fett!) gegessen. Alles war frittiert. Morgen fahren wir nach Perry, 54 Meilen entfernt. Nur noch 4 Tage zu fahren, dann ist es vorbei.